Saturday, April 22, 2017

1940 was a typical year on the Gold Coast of Rankin County: Bootleggin', whiskey, shootings, and good ole fashioned hell-raisin'. Jackson City Limits and The Dock had nothing on this place. Someone even thought it would be groovy to drop some acid on the Sheriff. Posted below is a collection of 1940 articles from the Clarion-Ledger covering the Gold Coast. Enjoy.

15 comments:

Anonymous
said...

kingfish, why you've decided to repeatedly highlight a portion of the history of this area that covers the lowest-life pieces of crap that populated this area kind of escapes me. Decent people of the era avoided this area. You can say, "yeah, but all you Baptists, Methodists, etc. were coming here to get your booze on" all day. Most people did not. You could just as easily post stories about the Klan back then, in a "gee, isn't this kind of cool", kind of way.The Klan sucked, the gangsters of the Gold Coast sucked. Call a spade a spade.It wasn't cool then, it's not cool now.I don't see you posting articles from that area about the building of Jackson and the surrounding area.Apparently, the only thing that you find interesting is the thugs, whores and bootleggers that infested that portion of our state.Or, is it that, the only thing that is click bait is the type of story that dwells on the basest of people's instinct is what you highlight.You choose to go low, or go high.Way to go, big guy. You rock!

It's all about alcohol which preceded racial beatings. Like the chicken and egg debate. I'm betting the ignorant drunks preceded the cross burnings. All of that is trumped by brick columns and interstate exits which is where these folks moved when the revenuers caught up. All hail first baptist anywhere.

king fish is the only guy in mississippi thats got the guts to tell it like it is and like it was. i got a history degree from a "prestigious" university in this state in this state back in 1980, and i have since leaned that everything i was taught was a stinking whitewash of what really happened. keep telling the truth KF.

7:12, My Daddy (from Madison County) fought in France in WWI and later liked to gamble and party at the Gold Coast. He died in 1965 when I was in high school before I was old enough to think to ask him to tell me his "stories". I find this bit of local history interesting.

Daddy was friends with Paul Crechale (who later started Crechale's Restaurant) back when Paul was maitre'd at the Rotisserie at five points. You weren't supposed to serve beer on Sundays then, so Paul would bring Daddy his beer in a tea pot. I remember eating at Crechales when I was a little boy in the 1950's. It has not changed much since then..............

I dunno, 7:12, perhaps there is a lesson in all this. Perhaps, when we make things illegal that people are going to use anyway, we give organized crime control of distribution of the products. Maybe we make everyday people into criminals and thrust them into seedy places if they choose to purchase the product. These stories are not about Rankin County and they are not exclusively about low life's (unless you count the prohibition members of CCJ --- :). . They are about prohibition. There were pockets of this all over the state. Good, decent, otherwise law abiding citizens bought liquor at these places because they wanted it and didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them... nah, it's more fun to revise history or pretend parts of it did not happen. Let's keep our heads in the sand and pretend the Gold Coast didn't exist....

I was 17 in 1960 and a few of us old Murrah boys would run over to Rankin County and pull around back of a few places and get our whiskey supply for the weekend. That was the way things were done back then. I have no memory of bad things happening during those years. Blacks and Whites got along great and there was almost zero crime.

7:12,Kingfish likes to report history BECAUSE it is history. It's truth and a lot of us have heard of many of these characters. After last week's info on Red Hydrick, I asked my day if he knew Red. He said he sure did know him and mentioned to me that one of Red's sons (maybe his only son ?) was found dead in either the Pearl River, or some river for some misdeeds.

Also, Sheriff Overby who was killed in a shootout with the notorious Sam Seany (both men shot and killed each other)is a distant relative. So, I don't think KF is glorifying any of the participants from the gold coast days, he's just sharing history and for those of us who have an interest in these matters, his efforts are appreciated.

Who is the Hottest Reporter in Jackson?

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!